Community Call Summary - Staying Resilient in Turbulent Times
June 15th, 2022
Today’s social, economic, and political predicaments form the perfect condition for heightened levels of anxiety and stress. It can be incredibly overwhelming and isolating, rendering it difficult for individuals to cope. Diversity in Sustainability hosted a conversation about resilience with a focus on personal experiences, recognizing sources of stress, and sharing strategies for managing eco-anxiety.
What attracted you to today’s conversation?
Here are some of the main causes of concern shared by participants:
Finding the balance between enjoying life and climate anxiety
Difficulties imposed by the pandemic, wars, droughts, and other humanitarian/environmental issues, along with the feelings of helplessness that are triggered by these events
Impostor syndrome - questioning whether you are able to contribute anything of value to combat these issues
The overload of information within the ESG sphere - it can be difficult to keep up with, especially for individuals who are unfamiliar with the technical language used within the profession
Worrying about greenwashing - discerning what is true action and what is deceitful marketing
Society’s lack of urgency regarding the climate crisis: today’s world thrives on habits (such as overconsumption) which have no positive contributions to the fight against climate change. This can be disheartening to individuals who are trying their best to live sustainably
The question of the kind of world that will be left behind for future generations
Despite the long list of stressors, we were able to discuss strategies that could help to combat them. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion:
Contribute within your Community
When the world’s issues seem too large to combat, focus on what is within your sphere of control and influence. It may not be realistic to attend UN climate conferences, but you can write to your local government officials, calling for climate action. By being an active citizen, voting, and advocating for climate justice, and making an effort to live sustainably, individuals can contribute to the mind shift and change that needs to happen to fight climate change..
Unplug
While the media can be a positive tool to spread knowledge, the constant wave of content and negative information can be detrimental to one’s mental well-being. It is important to stay informed, but oftentimes it is more beneficial to take a step back from news channels and social media to take a break. Remember that you are in control of your own social media - you get to choose which accounts to follow. If they are causing anxiety or not adding value to your social media experience, you can make the choice to remove them from your feed.
Make Space for Fun
While ESG and Sustainability work is important, they do not have to consume every aspect of life. Finding activities and hobbies that bring you joy outside of your career is necessary to live a balanced lifestyle. Several discussion participants highlighted the value that exercise, creativity (e.g. painting, pottery, scrapbooking) and connecting to nature (e.g. walking, hiking, gardening, composting) bring to their personal lives. Finding joy in personal interests is a form of self care.
Ask for and Accept Help
When you find that you have too many things on your plate, it is okay to slow down and take it easy. Learning to say “no” when you’ve reached your limit is healthy, and asking for and accepting help from others does not mean that you are incapable!
